You may or may not be aware of a news conference that took place today. Collin Sewell, one of the driving forces behind the 4KidsFuture Political Action Committee (PAC) that was supporting our Tax Ratification Election and Bond proposal, called a news conference at 1:00 pm today to announce the withdrawal of their support for both the TRE and the Bond.

The reason that Mr. Sewell gave for the withdrawal of their support was due to what was characterized as "misinformation". I am truly guilty of miscommunication but not misinformation. In the original TRE, I thought that the 2.5% for teachers was in total. In other words, it was 1.5% more than the 1% that teachers had already received. The Board and the PAC understood that it was 2.5% on top of the 1% the teachers had already received.

As soon as I became aware of my error, I changed the distribution of the money in the TRE to reflect a 2.5% raise for everyone on top of whatever you are currently making. This means the teachers would receive 2.5% on top of the step raise they had already received this year. Every faculty I have spoken with both Thursday and Friday have been told that it is 2.5% on top of their current salary.

Mr. Sewell feels that they were misled about the TRE. He feels that they were told that the TRE was for the operation of the new campuses. He is absolutely accurate. The TRE will be used to operate the new campuses when they are built. In the meantime, it will be used to give the 2.5% raises that the PAC continues to be very supportive of as well as other projects to help make up for the $2.4 billion in lost assessed value over the past two years. With the funding mechanism of the Texas school districts, by the time the schools would open the TRE monies would be available to use for the new schools. I have a very sincere and deep respect for Collin Sewell and those who have given so many hours tosupporting this bond issue and this TRE. I would never do anything to deceive anyone or mislead anyone involved with these very important issues.

The Bond Election and TRE Election will continue to move forward toward a November 7, 2017 Election date.Go VOTE.Respectfully,

Tom Crowe

NOTE: Here is the link to the Board of Trustees meeting when the school board unanimously approved a budget amendment for use of TRE revenue, contingent on the TRE receiving voter approval (Item C) - https://www.ectorcountyisd.org/site/default.aspx…"